They received "almost every kind of surgery that could be done on a face" and more.

K-Pop group Six Bomb has shared two new music videos that showcase the before and after of the members’ plastic surgery transformations. When the group released the “Becoming Prettier” music videos, viewers began to raise concerns about Six Bomb’s glamorization and encouragement of plastic surgery. The four members received "almost every kind of surgery that could be done on a face" and breast implants, reports the AFP News.

It’s not entirely surprising that the group underwent plastic surgery procedures; Seoul is considered by many to be one of the “plastic surgery capitals of the world.” In 2015, South Korea was among the top five countries in the world for number of cosmetic procedures, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Though, it is unusual for K-Pop singers to openly exhibit their transformations.

The first video, “Becoming Prettier (Before),” features the group getting consultations with a plastic surgeon and “Becoming Prettier (After)” reveals the members post-operation. Six Bomb’s Dain expressed that she wanted to be open about the group’s plastic surgery procedures. "We all wanted to get some surgeries done to look prettier... and thought, why not perform a song about it instead of trying to conceal it?'" according to AFP News. Six Bomb’s willingness to be transparent about their procedures is somewhat refreshing when most women usually refuse to speak about what work they’ve gotten done for fear of being criticized. Six Bomb’s videos of their transformation could be seen as a statement against plastic surgery shame. Ultimately, if women want to change their physical appearance, they certainly should have the autonomy to do so.

However, Six Bomb’s decision to get plastic surgery is also informed by the pressures of the K-Pop industry. Six Bomb’s head manager Kim Il-Woong, told AFP News that Six Bomb’s management funded the plastic surgery operations. The total cost of the procedures was ₩100 million Korean Won, which is roughly equivalent to $90,000 U.S. dollars. The funding of these procedures reveals that for Six Bomb, plastic surgery is about more than just being “pretty,” it’s an investment in the future of their careers as K-Pop stars. Many K-Pop singers, male and female, opt to get plastic surgery, including double eye-lid surgery to gain the appearance of larger eyes, jaw slimming surgery, and rhinoplasty to gain a higher and perkier nose.

The desire to have features that follow a European standard of beauty is engrained in South Korea’s value on the collective and uniformity in appearance. While in Western cultures value individualism, some Eastern cultures — and in particular, South Korea — place more emphasis with fitting in with the overall group and finding your role within the greater society. In South Korea, it’s not outrageous for job postings to require you to attach a photograph to your resume. Korean aunties will casually tell you to get work done, because they just want you to have the best chance at success. For K-pop stars, who are heralded for their perfect appearances in glossy music videos and performances, the requirement to look a certain way is even more magnified.

While everyone should be able to change and express their bodies in the ways they see fit, it’s important to ask: am I changing myself in a way that makes me feel liberated, or am I merely conforming to societal expectations of beauty and femininity? This answer to this question is slippery for most people, as some of our idols and the media further perpetuate beauty standards. However, chasing a certain aesthetic can be detrimental to one’s self-confidence and sense of body positivity.

K-Pop intense beauty standards also trickle down to the fans. Korea’s medical tourism industry is growing, as teenage K-Pop fans find travel packages from websites that include plastic surgeon recommendations and post-care accommodations. These girls are even sometimes sponsored to post YouTube videos about their before and after experiences with their plastic surgery — just like how Six Bomb documented their own transformation. When looking at the affect that stars have on their fans and viewers, Six Bomb’s glamorization of plastic surgery is clearly not just about aesthetics. It’s about the K-Pop industry fueling Korea’s cosmetic surgery industry and vice versa.

In “Becoming Pretty (After),” the girls sing “예뻐지는 중입니다,” which roughly translates to, “getting pretty.” Even after the procedure, Six Bomb sing the same hook from before they underwent the transformation. The continued repetition of “becoming pretty” reveals that for Six Bomb, the quest to become pretty never stops. While plastic surgery can be empowering for some individuals, it can also be a means for people to try to conform to limited beauty standards.

At the end of the day, it's up to you if you want to change your body and appearance. But if you're unhappy about something, remember that the ultimate goal is to be comfortable with yourself and love your own physical features, which you can do without changing your body. You don’t have to sacrifice your sense of self-worth to feel like you belong. And if you feel like you want to change your appearance, consider the outside societal pressures that make you feel that way, and then figure out the best way to navigate these expectations without compromising yourself.